The song wears its influences on its sleeve as you'll hear echoes of Pearl Jam's raw introspection, Smashing Pumpkins' layered heaviness, and an arena-sized emotional punch like Our Lady Peace. But Creeping Jennie is not just copying their heroes. They're drawing on those vibes and bringing them into something very much their own, resulting from years of experience and a bond rooted in sound. Singer Sam Barto is out front with a performance that sounds lived-in and immediate. There's a world-weary soulfulness to his vocals that's the perfect match for the wall of guitars, courtesy of Mike Naus, Brian Pysz, and Jeff Woods, a triple-axe attack that doesn't tread on each other's toes but rather intertwines seamlessly. As you might expect, it's ground beneath Sean McCarthy's bass, punched and pulsed by Matt Adams' drums. Special props for Geoff Barone's keys are here, contributing to the exact atmospheric depth level.
The hook drops in at 1:03, and at that point, "Echoes" ascends to inescapable, the chorus you sing with the windows down. It's cathartic and cinematic, evoking the very spirit of the song's memories, regrets, and resilience ringing out with every bar. A self-produced effort in a repurposed 100-year-old high school that's now an Arts and Cultural Center, "Echoes" is a statement. Creeping Jennie is back, and they're loud and proud and here to re-secure their place in the rock conversation.